Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A Photographic Guide

Birders, long in need of a global shorebird field guide, can safely replace three or four other volumes with Chandler's comprehensive new volume. A member of the editorial board for British Birds magazine, Chandler (North American Shorebirds) is a bona-fide expert who puts all his research and experience to use. The photos are ideal, with excellent contrast between birds and their backgrounds, bringing even the most camouflaged color schemes to vivid realization. Among the most wide-ranging group of birds, seashore vagrants are frequently reported from an ocean or continent away, and shifts in global climate put tropical and neo-tropical birds at higher latitudes; as such, Chandler covers many birds traditionally found in the Southern Hemisphere, and notes how far they're known to wander. Opening with a comprehensive primer on shorebird geography, speciation, appearance and behavior, Chandler goes on to describe feed techniques in fascinating detail, with illustrations showing how birds disturb small prey on mud flats and marsh grasses. Each species is accompanied by a seasonal distribution map, and a thorough bibliography and index backs up clearly written text. Tiny type size aside, the book's layout and typeface make for easy reading, even under poor light conditions, making this a highly practical, benchmark guide.